U.S. patent number 9,997,304 [Application Number 15/154,723] was granted by the patent office on 2018-06-12 for uniform illumination of keys.
This patent grant is currently assigned to APPLE INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is Apple Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Y. Cao, Mahesh Krishnamurthi, Craig C. Leong, Rong Liu, Dinesh C. Mathew, Jun Qi, Victor H. Yin, Bradford J. Zercoe.
United States Patent |
9,997,304 |
Leong , et al. |
June 12, 2018 |
Uniform illumination of keys
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing illumination to illuminable
portions of keys associated with a keyboard are described. A key
includes a light guide positioned below a keycap. The light guide
includes one or more sidewalls that exhibit high internal
reflection. In many examples, light guide sidewalls are formed with
one or more prisms.
Inventors: |
Leong; Craig C. (Cupertino,
CA), Zercoe; Bradford J. (Cupertino, CA), Mathew; Dinesh
C. (Cupertino, CA), Krishnamurthi; Mahesh (Cupertino,
CA), Cao; Robert Y. (Cupertino, CA), Qi; Jun
(Cupertino, CA), Liu; Rong (Cupertino, CA), Yin; Victor
H. (Cupertino, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Apple Inc. |
Cupertino |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
APPLE INC. (Cupertino,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
56411876 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/154,723 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160336124 A1 |
Nov 17, 2016 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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62161038 |
May 13, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
13/83 (20130101); H01H 13/023 (20130101); H01H
13/14 (20130101); H01H 2219/062 (20130101); G06F
3/0202 (20130101); H01H 2219/0622 (20130101); H01H
2219/048 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
13/02 (20060101); H01H 13/83 (20060101); H01H
13/14 (20060101); G06F 3/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;200/308,310-315,512-521,5A,341,344-345 |
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Other References
Elekson, "Reliable and Tested Wearable Electronics Embedment
Solutions," http://www.wearable.technology/our-technologies, 3
pages, at least as early as Jan. 6, 2016. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Leon; Edwin A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck,
LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a nonprovisional patent application of and
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/161,038, filed May 13, 2015 and titled "Uniform Illumination of
Keys," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A key for a keyboard comprising: a keycap disposed within an
aperture defined by the keyboard; a structural body positioned
beneath the keycap and defining an opening, the structural body
formed from an optically translucent material; a compressible dome
positioned below the keycap and at least partially within the
opening of the structural body; a key mechanism coupled to the
keycap and pivotally engaged with a sidewall of the structural
body; and a light emitting element optically coupled to the
structural body.
2. The key of claim 1, wherein the structural body has a prismatic
sidewall within the opening.
3. The key of claim 2, wherein the structural body comprises an
internally reflective surface.
4. The key of claim 3, wherein the internally reflective surface
comprises a rectilinear through-hole.
5. The key of claim 2, wherein the structural body comprises a
light guide.
6. A key comprising: a keycap defining an input surface of the key;
a compressible dome below the keycap; a light emitting element; a
light guide optically coupled to the light emitting element and
defining: an opening at least partially surrounding the
compressible dome; and an interlock feature positioned on a
sidewall of the light guide; and a key mechanism engaged with the
interlock feature and with the keycap and configured to guide the
keycap between a depressed position and an undepressed
position.
7. The key of claim 6, wherein the keycap comprises an illuminable
portion.
8. The key of claim 7, wherein the illuminable portion comprises a
glyph formed from an optically translucent material.
9. The key of claim 7, wherein the key mechanism at least partially
surrounds the light emitting element.
10. The key of claim 9, wherein the key mechanism comprises a
butterfly mechanism.
11. The key of claim 6, wherein the light guide forms a ring.
12. The key of claim 6, wherein: the sidewall is an outer sidewall;
and the light guide comprises: a top endcap surface; a bottom
endcap surface; and an inner sidewall extending from the top endcap
surface to the bottom endcap surfaces and having a greater internal
reflection than the top endcap surface.
13. The key of claim 12, wherein the outer sidewall has a greater
internal reflection than the top endcap surface.
14. The key of claim 12, wherein each of the inner sidewall and the
outer sidewall form one or more prisms.
15. An input structure for an electronic device, comprising: an
input surface comprising an illuminable portion; a collapsible dome
positioned below the input surface; a depressible mechanism
positioned around the collapsible dome and coupled to the input
surface, the depressible mechanism configured to move the input
surface downward to collapse the collapsible dome in response to an
external force on the input surface; a body coupled to the
depressible mechanism and the collapsible dome; a light guide
positioned around the collapsible dome and within the body, the
light guide optically coupled to the illuminable portion; and a
light emitting element optically coupled to the light guide and
configured to illuminate the illuminable portion through the light
guide.
16. The input structure of claim 15, wherein the light guide
defines an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall.
17. The input structure of claim 16, wherein the light guide is
optically coupled to the light emitting element.
18. The input structure of claim 16, wherein the inner sidewall and
the outer sidewall of the light guide each form a series of
prisms.
19. The input structure of claim 15, wherein the light guide is
insert-molded into the body.
20. The input structure of claim 15, wherein the body comprises a
reflective surface that is oblique to the light emitting
element.
21. The key of claim 1, wherein the key mechanism at least
partially surrounds the structural body when the key is in a
depressed configuration.
22. The key of claim 6, wherein the key mechanism at least
partially surrounds the light guide when the key is in a depressed
configuration.
Description
FIELD
Embodiments described herein are directed to input devices for
computing systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods
for facilitating substantially uniform illumination of select
features of such input devices.
BACKGROUND
Electronic devices can receive user input from a keyboard, some
keys of which may be illuminable and thus visible to a user in
dimly-lit environments. A key can be illuminated in a number of
ways. For example, a light-emitting diode ("LED") can be disposed
behind a keycap of an illuminable key to direct light toward and
through a translucent portion of the keycap. In many cases, the
location, orientation, and size of such an LED is limited by the
structure of the key itself, which, in turn, affects the quality,
uniformity, and quantity of light visible to a user.
SUMMARY
Embodiments described herein disclose a keyboard including a group
of keys. At least one key of the group of keys includes a
compressible dome, a light emitting element, and a light guide that
is positioned at least partially around the compressible dome and
optically coupled to the light emitting element. Some embodiments
may include an illuminable keycap positioned over the compressible
dome
In certain keys, the light guide includes a body that defines an
inner sidewall, an outer sidewall, a top endcap surface, and a
bottom endcap surface. The inner sidewall may exhibit greater
internal reflection than the top endcap surface. The inner sidewall
and the outer sidewall form one or more prisms.
Some embodiments take the form of a key for a keyboard, comprising:
a keycap disposed within an aperture defined by the keyboard; a
compressible dome positioned below the keycap; a key mechanism
positioned around the compressible dome and coupled to the keycap;
a structural body positioned beneath the key mechanism and formed
from an optically translucent material, the structural body coupled
to the key mechanism; and a light emitting element optically
coupled to the structural body.
Other embodiments take the form of an input structure for an
electronic device, comprising: an input surface comprising an
illuminable portion; a collapsible dome positioned below the input
surface; a depressible mechanism positioned around the collapsible
dome and coupled to the input surface, the depressible mechanism
configured to move the input surface downward to collapse the
collapsible dome in response to an external force on the input
surface; a body coupled to the depressible mechanism and the
collapsible dome; a light guide positioned around the collapsible
dome and within the body, the light guide optically coupled to the
illuminable portion; and a light emitting element optically coupled
to the light guide and configured to illuminate the illuminable
portion through the light guide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to representative embodiments
illustrated in the accompanying figures. It should be understood
that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the
embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is
intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as
may be included within the spirit and scope of the described
embodiments as defined by the appended claims.
FIG. 1A depicts an electronic device incorporating a keyboard with
illuminable keys.
FIG. 1B depicts the enclosed circle A-A of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A depicts an example key mechanism that may be used with an
illuminable key of the keyboard shown in FIGS. 1A-1B.
FIG. 2B depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG.
2A taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, particularly showing an example
light guide.
FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG. 2A
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, particularly showing another
example light guide.
FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG. 2A
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, particularly showing another
example light guide.
FIG. 5 depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG. 2A
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, particularly showing another
example light guide.
FIG. 6A depicts an example light guide having a prismatic
sidewall.
FIG. 6B depicts another example light guide having a prismatic
sidewall.
FIG. 6C depicts still another example light guide having a
prismatic sidewall.
FIG. 6D depicts yet another example light guide having an
internally scalloped sidewall.
FIG. 6E depicts a further example light guide having an externally
scalloped sidewall.
FIG. 6F depicts an example ring-shaped light guide having an
internally-scalloped sidewall.
FIG. 7A depicts an example light guide defining a prismatic
through-hole.
FIG. 7B depicts another example light guide defining a prismatic
through-hole.
FIG. 7C depicts another example light guide defining a prismatic
through-hole and three internal reflective surfaces.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting operations of a method of
manufacturing a light guide.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting operations of a method of
manufacturing a light guide based on a selected glyph.
The use of the same or similar reference numerals in different
figures indicates similar, related, or identical items.
The use of cross-hatching or shading in the accompanying figures is
generally provided to clarify the boundaries between adjacent
elements and also to facilitate legibility of the figures.
Accordingly, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching
or shading conveys or indicates any preference or requirement for
particular materials, material properties, element proportions,
element dimensions, commonalities of similarly illustrated
elements, or any other characteristic, attribute, or property for
any element illustrated in the accompanying figures
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood
that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the
embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is
intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as
can be included within the spirit and scope of the described
embodiments as defined by the appended claims.
Embodiments described herein reference systems and methods that
illuminate one or more keys of a keyboard. An illuminable key
includes a light emitting element, such as a light-emitting diode,
that is optically coupled to a light guide positioned beneath the
key. The light guide conveys light from the light emitting element
to an illuminable portion of the key.
As used herein, the phrase "illuminable portion of a key" refers
generally to any or all areas of (or adjacent to) a keycap or other
input surface that are intended to be illuminated such that the
location, size, and/or functionality of that portion of the key is
visually emphasized.
A glyph can be formed in an outer surface of a key from a
translucent or transparent material to define an alphanumeric
character, symbol, word, phrase, abbreviation, or any other
linguistic, scientific, numeric, or pictographic symbol or set of
symbols. In one example, the glyph itself illuminates upon
activation of the light emitting element. In other examples, other
portions of the key associated with the glyph illuminate upon
activation of the light emitting element such as a glyph border, a
glyph underline, a glyph outline, and so on. All are examples of
illuminable portions of a key.
Another example of an illuminable portion of a key is the geometry
of the key itself. In one example, the light emitting element
illuminates a key perimeter. In other examples, other portions of
the key geometry are illuminated, such as an external surface, a
sidewall, a corner, and so on. In further examples, the light
emitting element can illuminate spaces between one or more keys and
the adjacent structure of a keyboard. For example, an aperture in
which a key is disposed illuminates upon activation of the light
emitting element, thereby generating a halo around a base of the
key.
As noted above, the light emitting element optically couples to
illuminable portions of a key via a light guide. In some
embodiments, the light guide takes the shape of a ring, although
such a shape is not required. The ring-shaped light guide can be
fully closed or can be segmented. Such a light guide is formed from
an optically translucent (or transparent) material. A body of the
light guide can define an inner sidewall, an outer sidewall, a top
endcap surface, and a bottom endcap surface. The light emitting
element is optically coupled, either directly or indirectly, to the
body of the light guide. The endcap surfaces are optically coupled,
either directly or indirectly, to the illuminable portions of the
key or keycap.
The sidewalls of the light guide exhibit greater internal
reflection than the endcap surfaces. In one example, one or more
prisms or scallops are formed in the sidewalls and are oriented to
reflect light internally (e.g., into the interior of the light
guide) whereas an endcap surface is smooth and facilitates
transmission of light therethrough. In this manner, light emitted
by the light emitting element exits the light guide in a greater
quantity and in a more uniform manner through the endcap surfaces,
and thus through the illuminable portions of the key, than from the
sidewalls of the light guide.
In other embodiments, a light guide can form a structural portion
of the key in addition to directing light. In these examples, the
light guide also includes one or more internal reflectors (e.g.,
reflective surface), such as rectilinear through-holes, laser
etched or routed channels, insert-molded reflectors, or the like.
The internal reflectors are positioned and oriented to direct light
(via internal reflection) within the body to selected locations of
the top surface and/or the outer sidewall. In some cases, the
internal reflectors are oriented oblique to a light emitting
element. The internal reflectors direct light around structural
features of the body that can cause light to undesirably scatter,
leak, or exit the body away from the illuminable portion of the key
("light leakage"). In this manner, light emitted by the light
emitting element exits the light guide in a greater quantity and in
a more uniform manner through the top surface and/or the outer
sidewall (which may, in some embodiments, be smooth and facilitate
light transmission therethrough), and thus to the illuminable
portion of the key, because less light is lost to leakage.
These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to
FIGS. 1A-9. However, those skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect
to these Figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be
construed as limiting.
FIG. 1A depicts an electronic device 100 incorporating a keyboard
with illuminable keys, such as the illuminable key 102 depicted in
a removed view of greater scale identified by the enclosed circle
A-A, shown in FIGS. 1A-1B.
The electronic device 100 is a portable laptop computer including
an integrated keyboard with illuminable keys, such as an
illuminable key 102 or other suitable input structure. The
illuminable key 102 at least partially extends through an aperture
104 defined in a housing 106 of the electronic device 100. The
illuminable key 102 depresses at least partially into the aperture
104 when a user presses the illuminable key 102. In one example, a
top surface of the illuminable key 102 is flush with a top surface
of the housing of the electronic device 100 when the illuminable
key 102 is fully pressed. Other sample input structures may take
the form of buttons, mice, trackpads, touch-sensitive surfaces, and
so on.
A structure associated with the illuminable key 102 is disposed at
least partially within the aperture 104. This structure, referred
to as a "key stack," can include a keycap or similar input surface,
a key mechanism, an elastomeric dome, a switch housing, and
electronic switch circuitry. The keycap typically defines at least
one illuminable portion, depicted in FIG. 1A as a glyph 108.
FIG. 2A depicts an example key mechanism that may be used with an
illuminable key of the keyboard shown in FIGS. 1A-1B (or another
suitable input structure). The key mechanism 200 is shown as a
depressible mechanism and includes a first wing 202 and a second
wing 204 that are coupled together with a hinge 206. The first wing
202 and the second wing 204 are substantially symmetric across the
hinge 206. For example, as illustrated the first wing 202 and a
second wing 204 are each formed in a U-shape, the free ends of
which are coupled by the hinge 206 to form a closed ring. The key
mechanism 200 is depicted in a depressed configuration (e.g., the
key is pressed by a user). When the depressible mechanism
depresses, the wings may flatten or otherwise move toward a base of
the mechanism.
In many cases, the hinge 206 is a living hinge formed from a
flexible material such as a polymer or elastomer. In other cases,
the hinge 206 is a flexible member overmolded onto the first wing
202 and the second wing 204. The flexible member can be formed from
metal, fabric, polymer, or the like. In other embodiments, the
first wing 202 and the second wing 204 can be formed from an
optically translucent material and can be optically coupled to a
light emitting element. In this manner, the first wing 202 and the
second wing 204 can serve as a portion of a light guide.
Many embodiments include more than one hinge. For example, as
depicted, the first wing 202 and the second wing 204 are joined by
two hinges.
The first wing 202 and the second wing 204 are typically formed
from the same material, although this is not required. For example,
in one embodiment, the first wing 202 is formed from a plastic
material doped with glass fibers and the second wing is formed from
metal. In other embodiments, both the first wing 202 and the second
wing 204 are formed from a doped plastic material. In one
embodiment, the dopant material can be selected to increase the
strength and/or rigidity of the first wing 202 and the second wing
204.
Both the first wing 202 and the second wing 204 include geometry
configured to interlock with one or more other structural portions
of the key mechanism 200. For example, the first wing 202 includes
a keycap pivot 208a that interlocks with and/or slides within a
portion of a keycap (or other such input surface) positioned above
the depressible mechanism 200. The first wing 202 also includes a
structural pivot 208b that interlocks with and/or slides within a
portion of a structural body 210. Similarly, the second wing 204
includes a keycap pivot 212a that interlocks with and/or slides
within a portion of the keycap. The second wing 204 also includes a
structural pivot 212b that interlocks with and/or slides within a
portion of the structural body 210.
The structural body 210 is formed from a rigid material such as
plastic or metal. As with the first wing 202 and the second wing
204, the structural body 210 can be formed from a doped material.
The structural body 210 can be formed from an optically transparent
or translucent material although this is not required of all
embodiments. In one example, the structural body 210 can be formed
from an optically opaque material. In other embodiments, the
structural body 210 can be formed from a translucent material that
takes a particular color.
A light guide 214 is positioned within the structural body 210. The
light guide 214, and as illustrated, is shaped as a closed ring,
although such a configuration is not required. For example, the
light guide 214 can take a square shape, a rectangular shape, a
grid shape, or any other shape or combination of shapes. In still
further examples, the light guide 214 is formed as a segmented
shape, such as a segmented ring.
The light guide 214 is formed from an optically translucent or
transparent material such as acrylic, glass, or plastic. In many
examples, the light guide 214 is insert-molded into the structural
body 210. In other embodiments, the light guide 214 is co-molded
with the structural body 210. In still further examples, the light
guide 214 is molded into a light guide cavity that is defined
within the structural body 210.
As noted above, the light guide 214 includes a body that defines an
inner sidewall 214a, an outer sidewall 214b, a top endcap surface
214c, and a bottom endcap surface (not visible in FIG. 2A). The
inner sidewall 214a and the outer sidewall 214b of the light guide
214 exhibit greater internal reflection than the endcap surfaces,
such as the top endcap surface 214c. In this manner, light emitted
into the light guide 214 by a light emitting element (see, e.g.,
FIG. 2B) will exit the light guide 214 in a greater quantity and in
a more uniform manner through the top endcap surface 214c than
through any other portion of the light guide 214. In some examples,
the top endcap surface 214c is optically diffusive.
The light guide 214 is optically coupled, either directly or
indirectly, to one or more illuminable portions of the key. In one
example, the light guide 214 is optically coupled to the glyph 108
of the illuminable key 102 depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. With respect to
the orientation shown in FIG. 1B, the light guide 214 emits light
toward the bottom left hand portion of the illuminable key 102. For
example, in place of a ring configuration such as depicted in FIG.
2A, the top endcap surface 214c of the light guide 214 can take a
circular shape, positioned in the leftmost corner of the structural
body 210 so that the top endcap surface 214c is positioned
substantially below the glyph 108 of the illuminable key 102
depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. For other glyphs taking other shapes, the
light guide 214 can take a different shape. In this manner, the
shape and size of the light guide 214 is selected based on the
geometry of the illuminable portion to which the light guide 214 is
optically coupled.
The light guide 214 can be disposed around an aperture defined in
the structural body 210. For example, in one embodiment the
structural body 210 defines a through-hole 210a. As illustrated,
the through-hole 210a is circular, although this is not required
and the through-hole can take other shapes. A compressible dome 216
is disposed within the through-hole 210a. In some embodiments, the
compressible dome 216 is formed from an elastomeric material (e.g.,
is an elastomeric dome), although this is not required. Likewise,
the compressible or collapsible dome 216 may be formed from a
transparent or translucent material. For example, the compressible
dome 216 is formed from an optically opaque material. In other
examples, the compressible dome is formed from an optically
translucent material of a particular color (e.g., white). In some
embodiments, the compressible/collapsible dome may be replaced by a
different structure, including various mechanical, electrical,
and/or electromechanical switches. Likewise, the dome may be
replaced by a structure designed to provide a particular feedback
or feel to the user as the key (or other input surface) is pressed.
For example, the dome may be replaced by a spring, a bi-stable
element, and so on.
In some embodiments, the compressible dome 216 extends a certain
distance above a top surface of the structural body 210. In other
embodiments, the compressible dome 216 is flush with a top surface
of the structural body 210.
In many embodiments, a top surface 216a of the compressible or
otherwise collapsible dome 216 interfaces with the underside of the
keycap (or other such input surface) of the illuminable key. In one
example, the underside of the keycap includes a projection that
contacts the top surface 216a of the compressible dome 216. In
other cases, the underside of the keycap can include an indentation
that receives the top surface 216a of the compressible dome 216.
The compressible dome 216 collapses into the through-hole 210a to
activate the electronic switch circuitry associated with the
illuminable key in response to a user press of the keycap.
For simplicity of illustration, the depressible mechanism 200 is
depicted in a depressed configuration (e.g., when the key is
pressed by a user), depicting the first wing 202 and the second
wing 204 fully extended. In an upward configuration, the outermost
portions of the first wing 202 and the second wing 204 extend above
the structural body 210, pivoting relative to one another and
relative to the structural body 210 at the hinge 206.
FIG. 2B depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism (e.g.,
sample input structure) of FIG. 2A taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A.
As depicted in FIG. 2A, the first wing 202 and the second wing 204,
when coupled by the hinge(s), define an internal area in which the
structural body 210 is positioned. The light guide 214 is disposed
within a portion of the structural body 210. As illustrated, the
top endcap surface 214c is substantially flush with a top surface
of the structural body 210, although such a configuration is not
required. For example, in some embodiments the top endcap surface
214c extends proud of the top surface of the structural body 210.
In other examples, the top endcap surface 214c is inset into the
structural body 210.
In some embodiments, the light guide 214 extends partially, but not
entirely, through the structural body 210. More particularly, a
bottom endcap surface 214d of the light guide 214 mates with an
internal portion of the structural body 210. In other embodiments,
the bottom endcap surface 214d can extend through the entire depth
of the structural body 210.
Although the bottom endcap surface 214d is illustrated as
substantially parallel to the top endcap surface 214c, such a
configuration is not required. For example, the bottom endcap
surface 214d can be oblique to the top endcap surface 214c.
As noted above, the light guide 214 can include a body 214e. The
body 214e is optically coupled, either directly or indirectly, to a
light emitting element 218. As illustrated, the body 214e is
optically coupled to the light emitting element 218 through the
bottom endcap surface 214d. In other embodiments, the light
emitting element 218 can be optically coupled to the light guide
214 at a different location. In other examples, the light emitting
element 218 can be optically coupled to the light guide 214
indirectly, such as via a light pipe.
The light emitting element 218 includes one or more light-emitting
diodes. The light-emitting diodes emit light of a particular color
and at a particular brightness. In some embodiments, the light
emitting element 218 provides light of a variable color or a
variable brightness. In one example, the light emitting element 218
emits white light having a cool color temperature, although this is
not required.
An electrical switch layer 220 is also depicted in FIG. 2B. The
electrical switch layer 220 is disposed below the compressible or
otherwise collapsible dome 216 such that an electrical property of
the electrical switch layer 220 changes when the compressible dome
216 compresses. In one example, the compressible dome 216 can
complete an electrical contact between electrical traces or
contacts disposed on the electrical switch layer 220 when the
compressible dome 216 is compressed. The electrical traces are
organized in an interleaved comb pattern or a concentric circular
pattern. In other embodiments, the compressible dome 216 can cause
a change in a capacitance measured between one or more portions of
the electrical switch layer 220 when the compressible dome 216
compresses (or, put another way, a collapsible dome collapses).
The key mechanism 200 (or another example of a depressible
mechanism) is disposed onto a substrate 222. The substrate 222 can
be positioned within a housing of an electronic device, such as the
electronic device 100 depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. In other
embodiments, the substrate 222 can be positioned within an aperture
defined by the housing of an electronic device. In one example, the
substrate 222 is formed from a rigid material such as metal or
plastic.
As noted with respect to other embodiments described herein, the
inner sidewall 214a and the outer sidewall 214b of the light guide
214 exhibit greater internal reflection than the top endcap surface
214c and the bottom endcap surface 214d. More particularly, the
internal reflection of light vectored toward a sidewall of the
light guide 214 may be greater than the internal reflection of
light vectored toward an endcap of the light guide. In an alternate
and non-limiting phrasing, the sidewalls of the light guide 214 may
be more optically reflective than the endcaps of the light guide
214.
As may be appreciated, the reflectivity of a surface may depend
upon the angle of incidence with which light strikes the surface
and the difference between the refractive indices of the materials
interfacing at the surface. More specifically, at the boundary
between the light guide 214 and another material (e.g., air, the
structural body 210, the keycap, and so on) having a lower
refractive index than that of the light guide 214, light within the
light guide 214 may be reflected internally. If the angle of
incidence of the light is sufficiently high, total internal
reflection may occur (e.g., almost zero light passes through the
boundary; effectively all light reflects back into the body 214e).
Thus, in some cases, the inner sidewall 214a and the outer sidewall
214b can exhibit total internal reflection. In some embodiments,
the bottom endcap surface 214d may also exhibit greater internal
reflection than the top endcap surface 214c.
For these embodiments, most of the light emitted into the light
guide 214 by the light emitting element 218 will either reflect off
the inner sidewall 214a and/or the outer sidewall 214b (and/or the
bottom endcap surface 214d), or will exit the light guide 214
through the top endcap surface 214c. Similarly, for ring-shaped
light guides, internal reflection of light can cause light to be
emitted in a substantially uniform manner across the entire surface
of the top endcap surface 214c. More specifically, the portion of
the top endcap surface 214c that is diametrically opposite the
light emitting element 218 (e.g., the farthest point away from the
light emitting element 218, as illustrated in FIG. 2A) can emit a
quantity of light substantially similar to the other portions of
the top endcap surface 214c. In this manner, the light guide 214
facilitates substantially uniform emission of light from its
body.
As a result, the illuminable portions of the key to which the light
guide 214 is optically coupled (either directly or indirectly) are
illuminated in a substantially uniform manner. Likewise, other
suitable input structures may be illuminated in this fashion.
FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG. 2A
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, showing another example light
guide. As with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, a light guide
314 can be disposed at least partially within a structural body 312
of a key mechanism 300, or other depressible mechanism. The light
guide 314 is optically coupled, either directly or indirectly, to a
light emitting element 318. The light emitting element 318 is
positioned to emit light into a sidewall (e.g., outer sidewall) of
the light guide 314. A reflective feature 312a of the structural
body 312 is positioned adjacent to and/or within the light emission
path of the light emitting element 318.
In many embodiments, the reflective feature 312a is a substantially
flat surface that is oblique to the light emitting element 318. In
one embodiment, the reflective feature 312a is oriented toward a
top endcap surface 314c of the light guide 314 at a 45-degree angle
to the light emitting element 318. The reflective feature 312a can
be coated with a reflective coating such as a metalized ink.
The angle of the reflective feature 312a can be selected, at least
in part, to increase or maximize the total internal reflection of
light emitting from the light emitting element 318. In such an
embodiment, the structural body 312 and the light guide 314 can be
formed from materials having different refractive indices. More
particularly, the structural body 312 may have a lower refractive
index n.sub.2 than the refractive index n.sub.1 of the light guide
314. Once the refractive indices of the structural body 312 and the
light guide 314 are known, an incident angle .theta..sub.i at which
total internal reflection occurs (the "critical angle") can be
determined by the following equation:
.theta..sub.i=arcsin(n.sub.2/n.sub.1) Equation 1
Once the incident angle .theta..sub.i is determined, the minimum
angle of the reflective feature 312a can be determined. In this
manner, the amount of light lost to absorption within the
structural body 312 is substantially reduced. In other words, the
volume of light that exits the top endcap surface 315c is
increased.
In some embodiments, the reflective feature 312a can be implemented
as a chamfer formed in the inner sidewall of the light guide. In
other embodiments, the reflective feature 312a is a non-flat
surface such as a convex surface, a concave surface, or a domed
surface.
In other embodiments, the light emitting element 318 is positioned
elsewhere. For example, in one embodiment, the light emitting
element 318 is optically coupled to an internal sidewall of the
light guide. In other embodiments, such as depicted in FIG. 2B, the
light emitting element 318 is coupled to a bottom surface (e.g.,
bottom endcap surface) of the light guide. In still other
embodiments, the light emitting element 318 is optically coupled to
the top endcap surface 314c of the light guide 314. In these and
related embodiments, one or more reflective features, such as the
reflective feature 312a, can be formed within the structural body
312 to direct light emitted from the light emitting element 318 in
a particular direction.
FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG. 2A
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, showing another example light
guide. As with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, a light guide
414 can be disposed at least partially within a structural body 412
of a key mechanism 400. The light guide 414 is optically coupled,
either directly or indirectly, to a light emitting element 418.
As with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the light emitting
element 418 is positioned to emit light into a sidewall (e.g.,
outer sidewall) of the light guide 414. A first reflective feature
412a and a second reflective feature 412b of the structural body
412 are positioned adjacent to the light emitting element 418. In
many embodiments, the reflective features 412a, 412b are
substantially flat surfaces that are oriented oblique to the light
emitting element 418. In one embodiment, the reflective feature
412a is angled toward a top endcap surface 414c of the light guide
414 at a 45-degree angle to the light emitting element 418. The
reflective feature 412a can be coated with a reflective coating
such as a metalized ink. In other examples, the angle of the
reflective feature 412a is selected, at least in part, to maximize
the total internal reflection of light emitting from the light
emitting element 418.
As with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, Equation 1 may be used
to determine or approximate the angle(s) of the reflective features
412a, 412b.
FIG. 5 depicts a cross-section view of the key mechanism of FIG. 2A
taken along line B-B of FIG. 2A, showing another example light
guide. As with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, a light guide
514 can be disposed at least partially within a structural body 512
of a key mechanism 500. The light guide 514 is optically coupled,
either directly or indirectly, to a light emitting element 518. In
the illustrated embodiment, the light guide 514 can include a
partially domed surface, identified as the top endcap surface
514c.
It may be appreciated that the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2B and
3-5 are not exhaustive. For example, in some embodiments, the
various features depicted in FIG. 5 can be incorporated into an
embodiment incorporating features depicted and described with
respect to FIG. 3. Other embodiments can include additional
reflective surfaces other than those shown. For example, as noted
above, many embodiments described herein employ a light guide with
its sidewalls formed to exhibit greater internal reflection than
its endcap surfaces.
FIG. 6A depicts an example ring-shaped light guide 600 having an
external prismatic sidewall 602 and an internal prismatic sidewall
604. The external prismatic sidewall 602 and the internal prismatic
sidewall 604 exhibit a repeating pattern of triangular prisms. In
some embodiments, the depth of the external prismatic sidewall 602
and the internal prismatic sidewall 604 can be varied, such as
shown in FIG. 6B. In other embodiments, the number of triangular
prisms can be varied, such as shown in FIG. 6C. In other
embodiments, the shape of the prisms can be changed. For example,
as shown in FIG. 6D, the external prismatic sidewall 602 can take a
saw tooth (e.g., serrated) shape. In such an embodiment, the
internal prismatic sidewall 604 can also take a saw tooth shape. In
some cases, the internal prismatic sidewall 604 can be oriented
oppositely from the external prismatic sidewall 602. In this
manner, light within the ring-shaped light guide 600 can be
directed in a substantially counterclockwise direction.
As with other embodiments described herein, the geometry of the
prismatic sidewalls of a light guide can be determined or
approximated, at least in part, based on the refractive index of
the material selected for the light guide.
In other embodiments, the sidewalls of the light guides can take
other shapes. For example, in some embodiments, such as depicted in
FIGS. 6E-6F, a ring-shaped light guide 600 can include scalloped
sidewalls. As with prismatic sidewalls depicted in FIGS. 6A-6D, the
scalloped sidewalls 606, 608 can take any number of specific
shapes. For example, the depth, size, width, radius, and
orientation of the scallops can vary from embodiment to
embodiment.
As noted above, in other embodiments, a light guide of an
illuminable key can form a portion of the structure of the key
itself. For example, FIG. 7A depicts an example light guide that
serves a dual purpose of directing light to an illuminable portion
of a key and providing structural support to one or more portions
of the key. The light guide 700 can take the shape of a structural
body, such as the structural body 210 depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B. The
light guide 700 includes a through-hole 702. A compressible dome,
such as the compressible dome 216 depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B can be
inserted into the through-hole 702. A light emitting element 706 is
disposed at one corner of the light guide 700 to emit light into
the light guide 700.
As with other embodiments described herein, the light guide 700 is
made from an optically translucent or transparent material such as
plastic, glass, doped plastic or glass, sapphire, zirconia or the
like. The light guide 700 is formed from a material with a known or
determinable refractive index.
In other embodiments, the light emitting element 706 can be
disposed in other locations along the light guide 700. In one
embodiment, more than one light emitting element can be used. For
example, FIG. 7B depicts an embodiment with two light emitting
elements, each labeled as a light emitting element 706.
The through-hole 702 can have a greater internal reflectance than
other surfaces of the light guide 700. For example, the
through-hole 702 can include a prismatic sidewall, such as shown
and described with respect to FIGS. 6A-6D and as illustrated in
FIGS. 7A-7C. In other embodiments, the through-hole 702 can include
a scalloped sidewall, such as shown and described with respect to
FIGS. 6E-6F.
In still further examples, the light guide 700 can include an
internally reflective feature 708. In one embodiment, the
internally reflective feature 708 can be implemented as a
rectilinear through-hole, a laser etched or routed channel, an
insert-molded reflector, or the like. For example, as shown in FIG.
7C, three internally-reflective features are depicted, positioned
and oriented to direct light (via internal reflection) within the
body of the light guide 700. In this manner, the internally
reflective features direct light around structural features of the
body, such as the through-hole 702. Although the internally
reflective features 708 are depicted as rotated at 45 degrees, one
may appreciate that different embodiments can orient the internally
reflective feature 708 at different angles.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting operations of a method of
manufacturing a light guide. The method can begin at operation 800
in which a light guide is insert-molded into a structural base of a
key stack. Next, at operation 802, a light emitter, such as a
light-emitting diode, is positioned in optical communication with
the light guide.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting operations of a method of
manufacturing a light guide based on a selected glyph. The method
begins at operation 900 at which a glyph is selected. Next at
operation 902, the light guide and/or key structure are formed
based on the shape and location of the selected glyph (or
glyphs).
Although many embodiments described and depicted herein reference
light guides for illuminable keys of a keyboard, it should be
appreciated that other implementations can take other form factors.
Thus, the various embodiments described herein, as well as
functionality, operation, components, and capabilities thereof may
be combined with other elements as necessary, and so any physical,
functional, or operational discussion of any element or feature is
not intended to be limited solely to a particular embodiment to the
exclusion of others.
For example, although the electronic device 100 is shown in FIGS.
1A-1B as a laptop computer, it may be appreciated that other
electronic devices are contemplated. For example, the electronic
device 100 can be implemented as a peripheral input device, a
desktop computing device, a handheld input device, a tablet
computing device, a cellular phone, a wearable device, and so
on.
Further, it may be appreciated that the electronic device 100 can
include one or more components that interface or interoperate,
either directly or indirectly, with the illuminable key 102 which,
for simplicity of illustration are not depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. For
example, the electronic device 100 may include a processor coupled
to or in communication with a memory, a power supply, one or more
sensors, one or more communication interfaces, and one or more
input/output devices such as a display, a speaker, a rotary input
device, a microphone, an on/off button, a mute button, a biometric
sensor, a camera, a force and/or touch sensitive trackpad, and so
on.
In some embodiments, the communication interfaces provide
electronic communications between the electronic device 100 and an
external communication network, device or platform. The
communication interfaces can be implemented as wireless interfaces,
Bluetooth interfaces, universal serial bus interfaces, Wi-Fi
interfaces, TCP/IP interfaces, network communications interfaces,
or any conventional communication interfaces. The electronic device
100 may provide information related to externally connected or
communicating devices and/or software executing on such devices,
messages, video, operating commands, and so forth (and may receive
any of the foregoing from an external device), in addition to
communications. As noted above, for simplicity of illustration, the
electronic device 100 is depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B without many of
these elements, each of which may be included, partially,
optionally, or entirely, within a housing 106.
In some embodiments, the housing 106 can be configured to, at least
partially, surround a display. In many examples, the display may
incorporate an input device configured to receive touch input,
force input, and the like and/or may be configured to output
information to a user. The display can be implemented with any
suitable technology, including, but not limited to, a multi-touch
or multi-force sensing touchscreen that uses liquid crystal display
(LCD) technology, light-emitting diode (LED) technology, organic
light-emitting display (OLED) technology, organic
electroluminescence (OEL) technology, or another type of display
technology.
The housing 106 can form an outer surface or partial outer surface
and protective case for the internal components of the electronic
device 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 106 is
formed in a substantially rectangular shape, although this
configuration is not required. The housing 106 can be formed of one
or more components operably connected together, such as a front
piece and a back piece or a top clamshell and a bottom clamshell.
Alternatively, the housing 106 can be formed of a single piece
(e.g., uniform body or unibody).
Various embodiments described herein can be incorporated with other
systems or apparatuses and may not, in all cases, be directly
associated with an input device configured for use with an
electronic device such as depicted in FIGS. 1A-1B. For example, a
light guide as described herein can be incorporated into an
independent electronic switch such as a button (e.g., light switch,
automotive button, doorbell, and so on). In other examples, a light
guide as described herein can be incorporated into a different
portion of an electronic device, such as a display element of an
electronic device. In such an example, a light guide incorporating
prismatic or scalloped sidewalls can be used as a backlight
diffuser within a display stack-up.
Additionally, it may be appreciated that for illuminable key
embodiments the various structures and mechanisms described herein
are not intended to limit the disclosure to a particular favored or
required geometry or form factor. For example, an illuminable key
can include a butterfly mechanism, a scissor mechanism, or any
other suitable type of key mechanism. An illuminable key can
include a keycap that is formed to have a substantially flat top
surface or, in other embodiments, to have a partially curved top
surface. An electronic switch associated with the illuminable key
can be implemented as a single throw switch, a multi-throw switch,
a capacitive switch, and so on. A tactile feedback structure
associated with the illuminable key can be implemented as an
elastomeric dome, a spring, an elastomer deposit, a metal dome, or
any combination thereof.
Furthermore, one may appreciate that although many embodiments are
disclosed above, that the operations and steps presented with
respect to methods and techniques described herein are meant as
exemplary and accordingly are not exhaustive. One may further
appreciate that an alternate step order or fewer or additional
steps may be implemented in particular embodiments.
Although the disclosure above is described in terms of various
exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood
that the various features, aspects and functionality described in
one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their
applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are
described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various
combinations, to one or more of the some embodiments of the
invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and
whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a
described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present
invention should not be limited by any of the above-described
exemplary embodiments but is instead defined by the claims herein
presented.
* * * * *
References